SOUTH Cheshire's post office network faces a twin threat to its existence.

Campaigners say plans to scrap Post Office card accounts in 2010, coupled by an admission from bosses that the system could operate with just a quarter of branches, mean communities, particularly rural areas, could lose the facility all together.

MP Stephen O'Brien, whose Eddisbury constituency includes part of Crewe and Nantwich, has raised the spectre of the threat.

Figures obtained by Mr O'Brien from the House of Commons Library show that his constituency has already lost two branches since 1999, down from 34 to

32. He estimates 23 more will go.

Mr O'Brien said: 'The Government doesn't understand the great importance of post offices to community life, or the ability of vulnerable groups such as pensioners and the disabled to access vital services.

'Government initiatives, like forcing pensioners to have their pension paid into a bank account, scrapping the Post Office Card Account, encouraging people to renew their car tax online and preventing people renewing their television licences at post offices, will all play a significant part in undermining post offices and put more of them out of business.

'I will fight tooth and nail to defend this vitally important service.'

Cheshire County Council's deputy leader David Rowlands agreed, saying: 'It is very popular with older people who use it as a basic savings account with payments such as Social Security benefits and pensions paid directly into them. If such monies are paid instead direct into bank accounts this would weaken our remaining post office network.'